I’ve got a suggestion, if Labor wants to keep disobeying direct orders of the Senate we can show them why there are jail cells underneath Parliament House.

Transcript

I like Senator Farrell. He’s a good bloke. We don’t always agree. I accept that he’s overseas right now. Yet his repeated non-responses are not acceptable. His behaviour is not acceptable, because answering questions is important for accountability. The people that we serve deserve honesty and accountability. There’s only one word to describe this government’s attitude to Senate estimates, to questions on notice and to orders for the production of documents. That word is ‘contempt’. They continue to treat this chamber with contempt. Almost every order by this Senate to produce information is met with contempt from this government, and it is appropriate that we begin to treat appropriately the ministers who treat this Senate with contempt.

We have had explanation after explanation after explanation from ministers. Ministers are all too happy to come into this place and cop a lashing for an hour and continue to refuse to produce the information that this Senate has ordered. The explanations are not good enough. They are intentionally inadequate. It is not good enough that this Senate continues to accept them without any further action. It’s time for this Senate to use its constitutionally enshrined powers to hold ministers to account, and that must be through charges of contempt when they continue to disrespect this Senate’s orders.

I remind senators that it is this Senate, not the government-dominated privileges committee, that makes the final determination on matters of contempt. If this Senate is not happy with a minister’s disobedience of a direct order, then the Senate itself can vote on contempt, which we would do and which should happen. The time for meaningless, hollow blather, in explanation after explanation, is over. Start serving the people or face contempt motions. There are jail cells in the basement. It’s time for the executive government to be reminded why they’re there. That’s not a joke. That is fact. It’s time for the government to be reminded why there are jail cells in the basement.

24 replies
  1. Rita Rumler
    Rita Rumler says:

    Thank you Senator Malcolm for your comment. Jail cells under parliament house might exist. We NEED a STRONG speaker of the House to call the members to order & be accountable. The waffle that goes on is beyond belief. Behaviours are getting out of hand. The death of Kimberley Kitchings & nothing was done & everyone just moved on, the display of ‘madam’ being manhandled by Police & not thrown in the back of the Police car??? What message does that send out to the belligerent of society???
    Where is the spine of the Liberal party? They have curtailed to ALL of Labors comments & not held Labor to be accountable for anything.
    If you are the minority in a place like that, it is harder to change the behaviour.
    Thank you for all that you do. I have certainly appreciated it.

  2. Steve
    Steve says:

    Can you ask the government for another question on the referendum?
    Do you support Australia leaving the UN?
    That will get a yes

  3. Col
    Col says:

    Malcolm,
    Your complaint may be misguided as yourself appear to hold the Australian electorate in contempt.

    Relating to Global Warming.
    Many times I have asked for your explanation relating to Solar Infra Red radiation being able to pass through atmospheric CO2 and yet Terrestrial IR being hindered leaving the Earth.
    Apparantly my requests are being ignored as no replies have been received while you and your respondents continue with total denial (without scientific reason) of this serious Global problem.

    This situation appears very similar to your complaints re Senator Farrell.

    Can you please supply an answer?

    Cheers,
    Col

    PS
    It appears my access to this site has been cancelled as my recent posts have been denied.
    Again, please supply an answer.

    • Senator Malcolm Roberts
      Senator Malcolm Roberts says:

      On the contrary, it is you who must provide the evidence of what you assert, of human produced CO2 having a quantifiable, proven, causative effect on weather factors and secondly, what danger that presents.

      No scientific body has been able to accurately quantify the effect that human produced CO2 is having on temperature or weather (other than models – garbage in garbage out) or prove it is a danger. Wasteful conversations about Terrestrial IR do not do anything to prove the climate alarmist hypothesis. That’s because there is no danger and the climate change catastrophists, who have been continually wrong in their models, their doomsday predictions and other claims are scam artists.

      • Col
        Col says:

        With all due respect Malcolm.

        The Greenhouse Effect of atmospheric CO2 is scientifically a well known, measured and explained phenomenon.

        Considering your concern re Global Warming the question was a test to determine if you understand the scientific principles behind the Greenhouse Effect.

        There is considerable measured evidence for Climate Change caused by Global Warming.
        All that is required is an understanding off the science involved.

        Cheers,
        Col

          • Col
            Col says:

            Sorry Malcolm but you have missed the point.

            Would you please explain how Solar IR can pass through atmospheric CO2 while Terrestrial IR is hindered in its passage to space by the same CO2.

            Can any of your colleagues offer an explanation?

            Cheers,
            Col

          • Col
            Col says:

            Malcolm,

            Many Global Warming / Climate Change deniers hold the idea that present rising temperatures are driving the increasing level of atmospheric CO2.

            Two questions.

            1) Please advise Who, When and Where this idea came from.

            2) What scientifically valid reason is there to support this concept?

            Thanks,
            Col

          • Col
            Col says:

            Malcolm or Staff Member.

            Lets overlook the hang up on CO2.

            WATER VAPOUR itself is also a Greenhouse gas.

            With reference to WATER VAPOUR ALONE, please explain how WATER VAPOUR allows Solar IR to reach the Earth’s surface and hinders Terrestrial IR radiating to space.

            Thanks and Cheers,
            Col

          • Col
            Col says:

            Sorry Gumnut123.

            Without any specific reference as to the source of the “corrupted science” your statement is purely irrelevant.

            My science studies were 60 years ago, well before any supposed indoctrination re Global Warming etc.

            Cheers,
            Col

      • Col
        Col says:

        Sorry Grumpy.

        But Malcolm starts this section with a complaint re Senator Farrell not answering questions etc.

        If you read my initial comment you will see my comment is related to Malcolm himself not answering direct questions even after several requests..

        Hence, I believe< the contents of my postings are relevant.

        Cheers,
        Col

  4. Shane
    Shane says:

    I didn’t know there are jail cells beneath parliament. I also didn’t know you could hold ministers etc in contempt. I am really fed up with the parliament wasting everyone’s time with bs responses.
    Yes. Hold them in contempt. Put them in the cells. That is where most of them belong anyway for the contempt they have for the Australian people.

  5. Bill M
    Bill M says:

    I doubt if there would be enough cells to hold them all in.
    I also doubt if they would be treated as criminals.
    Bring it on.

    • Gumnut123
      Gumnut123 says:

      Plenty of Cells.

      Use the PRISONS – all new!! that taxpayers have unwittingly paid for re State Premiers Covid solution – the Unvaccinated accommodation that the “prisoner” is REQUIRED to PAY FOR.

  6. Stephen leane
    Stephen leane says:

    Why should tax payers pay for long term jail sentences they need to be executed. Use the money saved for roads schools etc

  7. Grazina
    Grazina says:

    No one is above the law including Policitians. We would be jailed if we lied to policitians, yet they break promises everyday to the people they are supposed to work for, destroying peoples lives and getting away with it.
    Crime is way out of control. Time to open up the jail cells.

    • Col
      Col says:

      Sorry Gumnut123.

      Without any specific reference as to the source of the “corrupted science” your statement is purely irrelevant.

      My science studies were 60 years ago, well before any supposed indoctrination re Global Warming etc.

      Cheers,
      Col

  8. Scott Silburn
    Scott Silburn says:

    Well said, Senator.
    The whole covid crisis has been one long and hideous display of contempt for the Australian people.

Comments are closed.